The event took place from July 25th to August 5th at Campo Grande Air Base
BACG, by Lieutenant Pereira, Major Oliveira Lima – Agência Força Aérea
An exchange between Fighter Units that operate the A-29 Super Tucano, from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and the United States Air Force (USAF), took place from July 25 to August 5, at the facilities of the Fleet Squadron, at Campo Grande Air Base (BACG), located in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS).
The event had the participation of military from the First Squadron of the Third Aviation Group (1°/3° GAV) – Scorpion Squadron, Second Squadron of the Third Aviation Group (2°/3° GAV) – Grifo Squadron, Third Squadron of the Third Aviation Group (3/3° GAV) – Flecha Squadron and the entourage of the 81st Fighter Squadron, made up of four pilots and three graduates, among them the Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Raabe, and Major Aviator Felipe Luis de Oliveira Vilela, a FAB officer who has been working with the American unit for four years.
81st Fighter Squadron
With a legacy dating back to the Second World War, which began in 1942, the 81st Fighter Squadron has operated several fighter aircraft, including the classic P-40 and P-47, as well as the new generation F-16 and A-10, among others. The Squadron has real combat experience, having participated in conflicts such as the Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Currently, the Unit operates the A-29 Super Tucano, assuming the main mission of providing training and advice (Air Advisor) to Air Forces of allied countries.
During the exchange, there were a series of theoretical classes given by the American military, as well as academic discussions about the operation of the aircraft and several training flights: Close Air Support, Convoy Escort, Air-Ground Employment and Armed Reconnaissance in the molds used by the USAF, in which the pilots were able to share their experience acquired in real combat, during the raids in Afghanistan.
On the other hand, the American pilots were able to have contact with the Brazilian doctrine of combat flights in layouts in which the USAF does not employ the Super Tucano. It is worth mentioning that the training flights combined Brazilian and American pilots in the cockpit, sharing the same squadron, a fact that provided a high level of doctrinal gain, in a simulated conflict scenario. It involved a total of 28 flights and more than 40 hours of flight time, in which the fundamentals studied for combat were applied in practice.
In the perception of Major Vilela, FAB Officer who operates in the 81st Fighter Squadron, the exchange promoted positive results for both sides.
Photos: BACG *** Translated by the DEFCONPress Team ***